Overview
ST PALAIS SUR MER wastewater treatment plant serves Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. It handles a population equivalent of 130,021 and is located near the Atlantic coast.
ST PALAIS SUR MER is a wastewater treatment plant serving the commune of Saint-Palais-sur-Mer in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France. The plant is situated near the Atlantic coast, within 50 km of the shoreline, and serves a population equivalent of approximately 130,021, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. As a French facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. For plants in sensitive coastal areas, tertiary treatment may be mandated to protect marine environments. The plant's designed capacity is 1. The treated effluent from ST PALAIS SUR MER ultimately discharges into the Atlantic Ocean via local waterways. The plant plays a key role in protecting the coastal waters of the Bay of Biscay, which support diverse marine life and are important for tourism and fisheries. Proper treatment helps prevent eutrophication and maintains water quality for recreational use.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Atlantic Ocean via the Gironde estuary or direct coastal outfalls, contributing to the Bay of Biscay ecosystem. This region supports diverse marine habitats, including seagrass beds and fish spawning grounds. Effective wastewater treatment is critical to prevent nutrient loading and protect coastal water quality, which sustains local tourism and fisheries.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France, near the Atlantic coast.
The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 130,021, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
Treated effluent is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean, likely via local waterways or coastal outfalls, contributing to the Bay of Biscay.
As a large agglomeration (>100,000 PE) in a coastal area, the plant is subject to the EU UWWTD (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment and potentially tertiary treatment to protect sensitive marine waters.
French plants of this scale typically employ secondary biological treatment (activated sludge) and often include nutrient removal to meet EU standards for coastal discharge.
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